Another downgrade of benefits for FB Silver
#16
Join Date: May 2015
Location: RBA / TBS
Programs: AF Gold / Accor Gold / Hilton Diamond / TP Silver / A3 Gold
Posts: 2,724
Before i was using *A , and reached TK C+ only because of intercontinental flights with TK/LH. The benefits are ok , as long as you travel with TK, but you dont get as much as FB silvers
I switched to ST and FB , cause AF was cheaper and more convenient than AC, i was quite close from gold last year , i wil try gold for 2016 but i dont see the etra benefits once you are sit in the plane
The real thing that iam worried now is that i dont see any new improvments in the services/products of airlines , only downgrades and lower prices , despite the competition is getting thougher than before
I switched to ST and FB , cause AF was cheaper and more convenient than AC, i was quite close from gold last year , i wil try gold for 2016 but i dont see the etra benefits once you are sit in the plane
The real thing that iam worried now is that i dont see any new improvments in the services/products of airlines , only downgrades and lower prices , despite the competition is getting thougher than before
#17
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
As a Delta Silver (ST Elite) it's a little frustrating but hardly surprising. This brings AF in line with DL in terms of how Silvers are treated. I do hope there will be at least Silver/ST Elite Check In desks at major airports so we don't have to use the general ones.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,794
My favourite, so when Boarding the A380 from CDG to JNB next time, they will now have to sort People into 4 Queues:
1. Business class Pax
2. E+ pax in Y
3. E Pax in Y
4. all other Pax
The three Queues System was already wicked, especially as they often manage to signpost contradictive signs for SkyPriority and regular Boarding.
Natcho
1. Business class Pax
2. E+ pax in Y
3. E Pax in Y
4. all other Pax
The three Queues System was already wicked, especially as they often manage to signpost contradictive signs for SkyPriority and regular Boarding.
Natcho
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,354
#20
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Flying blue
Posts: 421
Bugger, I've had gold or platinum for years and always waited in the the normal queues at AMS
The real issue is the miles downgrade making it harder and harder to get gold or platinum for companies that choose lower class flights. Unless your company has more money than sense, or some kind richie rich businessman, then you'll struggle on KLM. It's like a double punishment, force us down low, then take away what little there is at the bottom.
The real issue is the miles downgrade making it harder and harder to get gold or platinum for companies that choose lower class flights. Unless your company has more money than sense, or some kind richie rich businessman, then you'll struggle on KLM. It's like a double punishment, force us down low, then take away what little there is at the bottom.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,550
That has nothing to do with status, or any reduction in Silver benefits. Bonus miles that you receive based on status do not count as Level Miles and therefore your status does not help you requalify any faster. There has been no recent downgrade of mileage earning.
#22
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Flying blue
Posts: 421
Depends on your definition of recent. It is a double punishment. The loss of flight earning, like only 25% or 50% level miles DOES have an effect on your status.
#23
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,379
Originally Posted by Flying Blue
Access to priority services for Flying Blue Silver members will change, in order to better manage the growing number of travellers using priority services at over 1,000 airports worldwide.
Originally Posted by Flying Blue
At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol this means that passengers who travel to Schengen destinations from departure hall 1 can no longer make use of the dedicated fast-track priority lanes at security.
Originally Posted by Flying Blue
Also the priority baggage handling with corresponding yellow priority luggage tag will disappear.
Originally Posted by Flying Blue
Flying Blue Silver members may board the aircraft directly after the eligible SkyPriority passengers. The remaining Economy Class passengers will follow next.
#24
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,831
Looking at this as someone who sympathises with fellow FB members: a pity.
Looking at this as the armchair CEO who tries from time to time to do the right thing for the upper levels (dedicated Plat line for instance): makes sense to make queues just a little shorter by excluding silvers. In general I am against creating a differentiated offering by taking away things from one group of people rather than introduce new benefits for those that "deserve" (from a yield point of view) to be loyalised. But sometimes exclusivity can be created by just making an existing offer less "democratic"
As a Plat who sometimes looks at the list of pax segments mentioned on the Sky Priority banners and who wonders "Why don't they just write <Everybody except if you fly for the first time, alone, and on a real cheapo fare> ?": great idea.
Looking at this as the armchair CEO who tries from time to time to do the right thing for the upper levels (dedicated Plat line for instance): makes sense to make queues just a little shorter by excluding silvers. In general I am against creating a differentiated offering by taking away things from one group of people rather than introduce new benefits for those that "deserve" (from a yield point of view) to be loyalised. But sometimes exclusivity can be created by just making an existing offer less "democratic"
As a Plat who sometimes looks at the list of pax segments mentioned on the Sky Priority banners and who wonders "Why don't they just write <Everybody except if you fly for the first time, alone, and on a real cheapo fare> ?": great idea.
Last edited by San Gottardo; Dec 18, 2015 at 10:18 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: In between PTY, MEX and CPH
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, SAS Eurobonus Silver, Connect Miles Gold, Marriott Lifetime Plat, Hyatt Disc.
Posts: 585
I earned platinum in 2012 and 2013 based on miles.
#26
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: FB Gold, TK Elite, AB Gold, Sixt Plat, Hertz 5* and former many things
Posts: 23
Looking at this as someone who sympathises with fellow FB members: a pity.
Looking at this as the armchair CEO who tries from time to time to do the right thing for the upper levels (dedicated Plat line for instance): makes sense to make queues just a little shorter by excluding silvers. In general I am against creating a differentiated offering by taking away things from one group of people rather than introduce new benefits for those that "deserve" (from a yield point of view) to be localised. But sometimes exclusivity can be created by just making an existing offer less "democratic"
As a Plat who sometimes looks at the list of pax segments mentioned on the Sky Priority banners and who wonders "Why don't they just write <Everybody except if you fly for the first time, alone, and on a real cheapo fare> ?": great idea.
Looking at this as the armchair CEO who tries from time to time to do the right thing for the upper levels (dedicated Plat line for instance): makes sense to make queues just a little shorter by excluding silvers. In general I am against creating a differentiated offering by taking away things from one group of people rather than introduce new benefits for those that "deserve" (from a yield point of view) to be localised. But sometimes exclusivity can be created by just making an existing offer less "democratic"
As a Plat who sometimes looks at the list of pax segments mentioned on the Sky Priority banners and who wonders "Why don't they just write <Everybody except if you fly for the first time, alone, and on a real cheapo fare> ?": great idea.
But you are right, there was a lack of differentiation between silver/gold/plat in many ways. But once again, instead of adding perks to the upper tiers, it's easier to remove some to the lower ones, right?
#27
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,831
But the thing is, with certain perks, you can't "add". When boarding a plane, there is only one or two jetways and only one or two doors. If many people use the priority boarding the jetway still becomes clogged and you still have a "traffic jam" in the aisle and headracks will still be very full, even if you're an Elite customer.
For the perk to be a real benefit it must see Elite+ pax get on board faster and have space for their hand luggage before others. Two options: have more jetways or aircraft doors - not realistic. Or just put less people in the priority boarding group. That's what they did.
So in this case I find the "taking away" justified. Same for priority luggage delivery. There are only so many luggage belts and delivery vans, etc.
It's a different story for ticket counters. If they find that the wait is too long for Elite+, just add some counters! There is no bottleneck/scarce infrastructure. At least in theory.
#28
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,379
The story could also be different there: Usually not a problem for SkyPriority passengers, so we can let Silver members use it too. It's a non-benefit for most people (except during IRROPS perhaps). I for one don't remember when I last used a ticket counter.
#29
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
Amsterdam non-Schengen departures
I understand that Silver members flying to non-Schengen destinations from Amsterdam will still be able to use the SkyPriority security (as they will be able to use the direct stairs from the check-in bypassing the regular line).
#30
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: Flying blue
Posts: 421
I've been in quite a few airports where the priority counter was slower as they have one 1 counter and the non-priority has 4 or 5 counters, they they fly through and we are stuck because some arrogant business class arse starts demanding upgrades